Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Sharing the Wealth

Polly and I pinch ourselves everyday. We are very lucky. We have a great family, giving friends and a fantastic job. (I guess it's a job. It doesn't seem like a job). Every once in awhile we can get a little cranky. We whine to each other "do you know how many emails I had to answer today?" Then we pause and laugh at ourselves. Yes, we are very, very lucky and we know it. This blog has enriched both of us and we have made new friends. Thanks. You make us smile everyday.

We are so grateful for out lot in life, we are re-gifting. You will be the recipients. (a lucky couple of you anyway). We received a lovely gift this week from our friends and colleagues at Moda Fabrics. ***Did you know Moda has the same problem we all do - stash management. They are running out of room down in Dallas! Their stash has become our stash and will now become your stash. They sent us this today.They ran across a complete (yes, COMPLETE!!) set of Prairie Paisley yardage. That means 40 prints of Prairie Paisley! Some of this has been "extinct" for quite awhile. All you have to do is comment on this post before midnight, Saturday the 27th and some of this could be on it's way to your place. It's the least we could do for you, our friends.

Let us in on your stash management techniques. How do you handle the stash? One winner (picked at random by www.random.org) will get a half yard of each of the 40 prints - 20 yards total, and one winner will get a fat quarter of each of the prints - a 10 yard total.Do you make quilts to give away? Do you share with your friends? Have you just accepted your problem and built a storage facility? Harry Potter has a cloak of invisibility. I'm hoping for a circus tent of invisibility to come into my possession. That might be the answer to organizing my stash.

And......

Remember when I told you we loved those Canadian Olympic mittens? Well, these arrived todayYou folks are so nice! Monica came across these in Vancouver and sent them along to us. But, (yes, there is a "but") they are teeny, tiny. This is actually good news once we thought about it. First of all, Polly and I don't have to wrestle for them. While we would love to wear them, we also want to keep them pristine with the cool holographic label intact. Now they will become the coolest Christmas tree decorations ever. I get them this year and they will then go to South Florida the year after that. Thanks Monica. We are very touched.

Stash management? What's that? I don't think I have it...that's why it is out of control. So why not add some of that beautiful Prairie Paisley to my already overrun closet, but it sure would make a great charity quilt for some fortunate recipient. My group and I make "love covers" for a local hospital. I think they would like some made from Prairie Paisley. Thanks!

Every once in a while, I come across a forgotten treasure in my stash so it does not surprise me that Moda has the same experience, just on a much larger scale (my stash hasn't reached warehouse proportions yet, don't let my husband exaggerate).

I've given up trying to manage or control it, I just organize it, and re-organize it, and fondle it some more...

Fabulous find Moda and thank for sending it to Minick and Simpson and thank them for passing it on. I do quilt for my church and quilts are given to hospice,foster care, disaster relief, and the domestic abuse home for women. would love to win

I've not done a good job of controlling the stash! In fact, I think it controls ME!! But I have at this point in time 7, yes SEVEN, projects in the works using ONLY stash. Some of them will wind up living here and some will most likely go to live elsewhere! Thanks for the giveaway!!

My stash management is "plastic totes". I have several of them and I just write on an index card which fabric is in the stash and tape to the tote. Thanks Moda for finding the stash. Love the gloves. I hear they are hard to find. They will make the perfect christmas ornaments.

I love your fabric. In fact I bought some Bar Harbor fabric today and was really disappointed that the twill is not here yet! Must have the twill! The collection looks like it could be used to re-do a sun porch on a beach house....I can see the rose fabric as pillows--along with the stripe. The twill would be pillows for the wicker furniture and the "cheater" would be a throw...At any rate, thanks for sharing! Cheery wave from Bevtopinsales@gmail.com

I use plastic totes that are in my guest bedroom closet. I take pictures of my fabric and attach pictures on the outside of my tote so that I can quickly see what fabrics are in each tote. My "scrap" pile is just that....a tote with scraps.What an awesome giveaway!!

I have s room full of shelves that are loaded with my 30 year stash.I've been cutting the smaller pieces into strips and squares for scrap projects but of course that just moves it from area to another.Prairie Paisley was my favorite of your lines so I would lvoe to win!

Ooh Ooh Ooh! That is one of my most favorite lines of fabric ever. I am drooling just thinking about it.

Now what is this stash management of which you speak? Right now my I have to box up what I am not using. I think I have broken into all of my boxes at least a half dozen times. It's not very effective.

I have a wall of shelves that my sweet husband built to hold my Sterilite bins - the long flat ones made for under the bed. My shelves are just tall and wide enough to hold one tub so I can slide them in and out without unstacking the tubs. One column is color arranged, the others are arranged by type of fabric - civil war, 30s, batiks, etc. Oh, I loved the prairie paisley line - I have one quilt waiting to be finished and another to be made in it. Wouldn't be fun to have a trio of quilts from the line! Projects are in tote bags that have accumulated from everywhere. The tote bags live in a cabinet.

LOL,my stash is housed in: multiple Sterelite plastic drawer sets lined up against the wall (21 drawers of quilting projects and 8 more drawers of scrap fabric and yardage at last count) In the closit are 8 more drawers of completed tops waiting to be quilted, and under my quilting frame are 21 plastic 12 Qt tote boxes that hold the planned quilts that i'll be making this year.So yes, it all resembles a mini Moda warehouse. most of my stash is organized by projects,(with patterns and backing fabric included) just don't ask me to put my hand on the right box the first time.

But i still have an empty drawer saved just for that Prairie Paisley fabric! and i'd really love to have some, pretty please?

I am very lucky. When we built our new house, I got the bonus room as my sewing room. We put ceiling to floor shelving in the walkin closet to store my stash. I make quilts for Quilts of Valor and baby quilts for the social workers to give to kids in crisis.

When 2 of our daughters moved out, I moved into one of the bedrooms thinking I would have plenty of room for my stash. HAH! I call it my "padded room". Your Prairie Paisley would be beautiful in a quilt for the cottage. ~Joyce in MI

I have my fabrics more or less divided into the drawers of a good sized chest of drawers. Batting is on the bottom and folded fabric is in the all the drawers. It usually is full to bursting! I need to sew faster.

My stash is stacked by color on a shelf with glass doors. The doors no longer shut as the fabric stacks are now doubled but so far it all fits on there. I just love your Prairie Paisley line - the thought of Moda having stash management problems makes me smile. :0)

I'm very new to quilting (working on my first one now), so I don't have much of a stash other than the freebie stash I got on Craigslist last year! So I keep that little stash in a zippered bag that I got my new comforter in. I also have some fabric from various sewing projects in years past tucked away in a wicker trunk. I hope to have more stash after this giveway - hint hint! LOL Those fabrics are beautiful!

Oh wow, I have a few pieces of this fabric line, and I LOVE it. It would make such a beautiful quilt. I need to make two for my boys, and this fabric would work so beautifully. Thanks for sharing the joy.

Oh wow!!! I just love these fabrics. They are gorgeous. I have a nice stash. Not too big. I only have a little bit of space for my stuff. So, I keep it somewhat under control. But these would be so amazing to add to my stash. Most of my sewing is for others. I usually make scrap quilts to keep for my family. That way I get to keep a little piece of all my favorite fabrics. Thanks for sharing.

Stash, whats that? The only way it will ever get in control is when there are no more fabric shops. That beautiful paisley will look good with my stash. I make baby quilts and quilts of valor that are all donated.

Can a stash really be managed?! I keep mine in plastic boxes on the loungeroom floor, and they get dragged into my bedroom whenever I have visitors. I give scraps to friends when they want them and sometimes give stuff away on my blog too.

Stash Management..are you kidding..I am a MODA snob...I only use MODA don't buy anything else...heaven forbid..I can't imagine not using MODA...feels good..looks good...sews good...as far as stash management..what is that..it's every where under every bed on every shelf in every nook and crannie..I must have it and I must have it now..There is NO cure!!!!!Lisa

Well, since I started blogging I've discovered that I don't really have a stash of fabric!! I'm working on it though. I've seen some HUGE stashes on some blogs and I don't think that I'm aiming that big, but I would like to have to add another shelf or two in my room! So I guess to answer the question, there is no management with my stash just a total desire to add to it....Lizziexxx

I just finished getting my stash "together". I have everything separated. NOW, I am putting an excel file to show what I have. I think if I know what I have, I will quit buying it over and over again. Also, I might just use more knowing exactly what I have. I also like the way Jaybird (and the person she got it from) is doing the account of fabric on hand, used, and bought... love that idea as well.

I would love to add more to my excel sheet - here's to crossing my fingers for the win. Thanks!!!

I adore Prairie Paisley!! Stash management...this sounds like something I've heard of but have yet to run across here lol. When things start getting out of control I do go on the whole fabric diet thing, and I try to use some of it up, give some away...kind of the same thing with clothes lol.

I have one stash in a double closet, however, I usually don't even go into the closet because of all the boxes, containers, bags and piles of material in front of the closet doors. I really should get myself organized, but that would involve stopping my latest quilt in progress, and I really don't want to stop. It is madness, isn't it?

Oh wow, I am in love with those fabrics.Well I control my stash in a way that once I have made a quilt and have leftover I cut them in to strips or squares and store them for scrap quilts.

Yes I do make quilts to give away and when we had the Bushfires here last year I send some to the collection place down south and from memory over 1200 quilts came together.

Quilting is what i do day to day and love it, you know my weakness is if someone comes to my house and is really taken by one of my quilts, they will more likely to go home with it. Can't help love giving quilts and it means I can by more fabric.

Here at Maple Hoo we're in the blissful state of being new enough at quilting that we can still claim that we don't have a big enough stash yet and new enough that we don't have to be stressing that we haven't used enough of it yet! Talk to me again in a year. Heh heh heh.

The way I try to manage my stash is I have to consider if it will fit into my smallish sewing room. I started filling the adjoining bedroom with fabric etc. when one of my children had to move back home. I had to forcibly empty the bedroom closet back into the sewing room. There is still a large drawer of Thimbleberries in the dresser. As far as who gets the quilts it's about 3 to 1. I give away 3 and keep 1.You have the best drawings!!!

My cats don't believe in stash management. Every time I try to organize things, they re-organize as soon as my back is turned. My little Trouble boy likes to check what I am doing by jumping on my back and looking over my shoulder - he's such a big help :)He would love some new fabric to inspect and "organize." When time permits, we do make quilts and such for the Linus Project or other charities. Thanks for the give away.

My stash? Oh well....the thing is that every so often I tell myself that I won't buy any more fabric until I use up ____ (insert amount - sometimes 10 yards or 2 quilts worth, whatever) and then I go surfing and see that 'must have' fabric that calls my name, like the sirens and Odysseus. And so it continues.I make quilts for family and special friends.

I try to "control" it by subject matter as in the batik box, reproduction box,but some how some way it seems to morph on it's own. Then it is back to sorting again, I needed a bigger house! Thanks for having such a great give away! Sharonj

I keep most of the quilts I make and store them in a vintage wardrobe that I rescued out of a house that was being demolished. To store my unused fabrics, hubby build some wonderful shelves that I just love!

My problem with a stash is that I'd almost always buy a new fabric than use from my stash. So why do I keep stashing?? There is a quilting group at my Mom's church, and they make quilts for mission fields. Every so often I weed through my stacks and donate to the cause. I know in my heart that I can never use it all myself, and it isn't doing anyone any good just sitting upstairs in my closet. The quilting group doesn't buy ANY fabric, so the more donations they receive, the more quilts they are able to make. It makes me feel good to know it goes to a good cause........and it makes me feel less guilty about buying the next fabric!

The colors in the prairie fabrics are my very favorites. Soothing and calm. Love them! :)

Wow! Prairie Paisley is one of my all time favorite fabric lines. I was hoarding some of the fabric recently but decided to make a eye glass catcher out of it (I also made a table runner) just so I could have it with me all the time. I cannot be without my glasses - one pair for reading and computer and another pair for TV and knitting. I wish I could wear contacts! Oh well - please enter me into your give-a-way as I already know what I would do with it - I would love to make the quilt that was on the front of the quilting magazine about a year ago featuring Prairie Paisley!Laura T

I think I should have stock in rubber maid. I love fabric! I started buying cute decorative boxes and hide my stash in them so my hubby doesn't know exactly how much fabric I have. I love giving my quilts away as gifts. Every Christmas I try to give 3-5 quilts as gifts. I love the Prairie Paisley line of fabric. I can never say no to red white and blue fabric. Please count me in the drawing for the fabric. Thanks for being so generous. Karen M

Stash?? I thought it was my fabric collection. Use it for gifts-someone is always having a baby. Belong to a group that makes quilts for those that need a hug from God. Love, love, love, your Prairie Paisley Line!! Would love to add that to my collection!

I use totes and a sideboard to keep my stash sorted by washed/unwashed and by style (patriotic, CW prints, florals) and color. It's fun to sort stash, fabric handling is always a good time. If I receive some of 'the wealth' it would find its way into a quilt like this one (http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/2009/06/fuss-free-hand-quilting.html. I saw it here and I was in love! I hunted down the April 2006 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting and I am collecting lovelies to feature in it! Thank you for your continued inspiration.

Stash management?!? Not me. There is no rhyme or reason to my stash. I have learned to embrace my addiction and my stash. My real problem is that i give away almost all my quilts. I need to have more of my own quilts in my house. I would be overjoyed to win your collection Prairie Paisley.

My stash management came as a surprise to me. One day my husband decided he wanted to make a quilt. He did, and has since made another 6 quilts. We take our kits when we go camping in our trailer and sew away. He would love your fabric give away.

Just in the last couple of weeks I bought 3 big see-thru bins from Costco to organize some of my stash. It's working so well that I'm getting more when I go back. (That's a lot of stash!) Yes, I usually make quilts for other folks...relatives, friends moving, and for special occasion gifts. I would LOVE to win your giveaway fabrics.

My stash is not that big yet, so manageable. I keep fat quarters in baskets and boxes and yardage on the shelves. I make some quilts for myself and some for gifts to friends. I love making wall hangings with sayings to give as gifts and great way to use up stash.

My husband and I our looking for a house with a room that has a very large closet that I can use exclusively for sewing and for holding my stash. Currently our second bedroom is filled with my stash, notions, batting, portable sewing machine case and UFOs. You can't even open the door.

I've only been quilting for three years, so I think I may need some type of AA for fabric buying if this keeps up.

I haven't got too much of a stash, but I have a few quilts in the making. I remember when that line came out, I loved it! How fun to receive that pile from Moda after it's "gone" so to speak :-)I would love to make something out of it :-)

Gorgeous fabrics! I would love to add them to my collection, which started so many years ago when I was just a child. My grandmother always took me along on her 'acquisition' trips to the fabric stores, so I was taught well at an early age how important it was to have a proper stash:) Every room in the house has some stashed fabric, with the most of it in a closet I use to store the stuff I'm using right now:) I don't have a huge stash right now, as I have been using it to make scrap quilts this winter. I have started making quilts for Quilts4Kids, and give most of my other quilts away.

Love Prairie Paisley fabrics! I have a bookcase that I put stacks of fabric in sorted by color. Then I have bins of fabric that I sort according to how much I like it. I keep the best stuff in my closet and move the rest around the house in other closets. Even ugly fabric can be made into a rug someday. Some I give to church for the quilt club.

Oh my gosh... I have just gone to heaven... I have a whole area allocated for my RWB Minick & Simpson stash...that was one of my favorite collections of all time.

I have different areas in my closet/dresser drawers allocated to precuts, FQ stacks, fabrics that will be used as a collection and those that will be used as color. Items that are not my taste in more but still current I try to use for gifts and I have a box of uglies that will become a quilt to take to my sons baseball games. Thanks for such a generous giveaway!

Stash Management - um.....yeah, you could call it that. You could also call it basic investment for the future - you never know when there could be a Boll Weevil infestation and our cottons would be priceless!!!!

Stash Management ?? I thought those were contradictory words -- silly me! I love making quilts for others. A friend told me today the quilt I made for her son when he was born has become his favorite "must have" item. Her daughter learned to walk while holding the quilt I made for her. Sweet moments to ponder while making quilts for others. Thanks for the wonderful fabrics you design for us.

Stash management has been going on here for years...to downsize I started giving it away...to friends, churches, on freecycle...my favorite was hundreds of yards to a church group starting a mission in Africa to help young women leave prostitution and become seamstresses...each completing the program would recieve her own Singer treadle sewing machine...they had almost 100 old machines newly refurbished by a group of volunteers...

in my church we make pajama pants for local VA hospitals...pillowcases too...

I just finished a jelly roll quilt with this line of fabrics. I absolutely love it and would love to have more. My stash management has been to participate over at Judy L's Patchwork Times blog each Sunday for my stash report. It gives you a little accountability. While I'm not ahead in getting used, it does make me think before I purchase. So at least I have a plan. :)

Just trying to avoid the avalanche! I have plastic bins on shelves that are keyed by color. Some are keyed by style(homespun), holidays. Mostly I'm just thankful I have a stash! I would be honored to give your lovely fabrics a new home - however they may not make to the stash - they may get into a quilt right away!

My stash seems to grow. I do try to bust it out, but fabric is my drug. The longer I'm away from it the more I need it. I can just touch it and it makes my day better. That's why I need more. So 20 yards or 10 yards would feel right at home.

My stash of fabric as well as papercraftinig items is in my new craft room in our new home. Nice to have a place to call my own.Hey Laurie and Polly - glad to see you have those great Canadian Maple Leaf mittens - after all you have Canadian roots. Karen

I HAVE QUITE A BIT OF FABRIC. WHEN I GOT INTO QUILTING i said I WASN'T GOING TO GET A LOT OF EXTRA FABRIC BUT HERE i go again. I HAVE COLLECTED QUITE A BIT just CAN'T RESIST THE BEAUTIFUL FABRICS. But in my stash I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY BLUES,REDS. i love red/white/blue so would love it. keep up the inspiring work. THANKS Sandi

Oh dear, you brought me out of hiding - I've been a reader for a long time but never dared a comment! I group my stash by themes, then colors - and keep my fingers crossed that I can find them again. Looking for one fabric can throw my sewing room into chaos for the next few months! Oh the hazards of small houses.I must say I'm finding it hard to believe Moda has a stash problem - their fabrics are so amazing!

Oh my gosh, the Praire Paisley line is by far one of my FAVORITES!!! I just love the colors and prints. I would be so delighted to win some! I manage my stash in my closet, with lots of shelves, where I can close the door and not worry about fading. I also put together fabrics I've bought for a project, along with the book or pattern, so that when I go to it later I will remember what I bought it for! LOL! Don't you love it though?

Uh.. I just hit my head bouncing off the computer screen when I saw that luscious fabric...it would be perfect to make another Reaching for the Stars Quilt!!! My stash went from one of my dressers to one of my closets, to getting Rubbermaid cupboards on sale, I now have a total of six and am told that I can start my own store cause I thought I could have everything in one room but the dressers are still full and the closet is still stuffed and now there are more shelves just for the fat quarters!!..but they are in Color order not by designer so I mix and match lots of designers fabrics and love to open the doors and pull anything from my stash to make a quilt no matter what time it is..it never stops growing. Right now there is also a cupboard of UFO's I am working on...that is the worse stash!!hopefully I will be able to finish and display then give away to friends and family

I haven't been managing my stash very well! In fact, this year I signed up for a challenge that allows me to only use what fabric I already own. Some of it is from the 1980's! Help. I am starting to make a serious dent in it but so much is left. I think after a certain point, I will donate some of the older fabric.

I was just taking about stash management with my UFO students today. I try to make quilts using my stash but adding new pieces to update and brighten the palette. Then when the top is done, the fabrics is then transferred from the stash management pile to the quilt top pile in another part of the house. I am a longarm quilter and have lots of my own tops waiting for a spare day between customer quilts.

So in fact I also have no "stash managent plan" just a tranference plan, and then I don't have to hide anything from my Husband.

I go thru my fabric collection about once a year and give away anything I don't like anymore to the guild to make charity quilts.I cut fat quarters into strip sizes I use most6 1/2" for alternate blocks/applique pieces, etc4", 2 1/2" and 1 1/2" two of these if I can get it out of the fat quarter.when I want to start a project I just pull out the bin with the strips and start cutting and sewing with lots of variety of fabrics.This works well for me , took a long time to figure it all out but it was worth it.Love those mittens!LOVE this fabric line would love to win thanksKathie

i wish i had a stash to manage, i can only buy what i need as needed. we have 4 kids, and i craft for spending money on my hobbies, those look so pretty though, and i promise that if i won, i would give it a great home and love and cherish it for many years to come!!

My DH built me some gorgeous cabinets to manage my stash. The only thing is that I keep overflowing them. I love my stash. It makes me happy and is much less harmful than other vices I could have. I don't think I've earned a place on Hoarders yet.That is a beautiful collection. My stash is predominantly darks and that collection is mostly light. It would make a great addition.

I try to make a few quilts for my guild. The guild gives the donated quilts to various organizations. I love the Prairie Paisley line. It's difficult to find that line now so winning some would be wonderful. Thanks for the great giveaway!

Hi Laurie: For a while when "stash reduction" was the big thing I felt guilty having so much fabric, but after a month of parsimony I realized that buying and having new fabric was necessary to my creative process. So I started buying again and my blue funk disappeared. Is this a rationalisation? It just might be. BTW I love Prairie Paisley, definitely at least as much as I love Bar Harbour and possibly even more, and that's saying something!

I try to keep my fat quarters together in container, my yardage on a bookshelf and my scraps in a big tote. My quilt guild is doing a stash management program this year and we make something every month with a certain color from our stash to share with the group. We are also doing a mystery quilt with stash fabrics. Maybe by the end of the year my stash will be smaller, I hope!

prairie paisley I love that line. I have 2 quilts with all ready and one more in the works. I take them out in June and enjoy them all summer. They are my favorite. So why not one more. My stash keeps growing but I do make a lot of quilts to share. Two weddings and two grandbabies to create for this year!PattiO

I do quilt for my friends and family and I can't control my stash... really it controls me, it says me "buy another FQ, only another...." and I buy! :)There is always a little corner for another FQ!Denise

stash management... what is that??? I have little stash so i keep it in rubbermaid tubs. I make things to give away either to charity like project linus or the local refugee program or to family and friends.

My stash has sent me to therapy! Not kidding! Stash Therapy! I am using my lovelies right now to make quilts for the cancer unit in our hospital. This has been very rewarding. Please enter me to win. And Girls, I love your blog!

Moving to a new log cabin and in preparing for the move I had to give up my stash due to a few months of putting things in storage.........I'm so missing it and need to start a new stash!Those fabrics are great!

Stash management? If you have any great ideas I'd love to hear them. I do have fabric neatly stored in two Ikea cabinets and also in bins under my bed. It's the overflow that I have to deal with now. It's in heavy canvas bags in various locations. AndI keep discovering more. That said, I would love to have the Prarie Rose fabric. It's a lovely line of fabric.

I've cut into my "stash" of Prairie Paisley --- would love to add to it! Manage stash?! unfortunately not in my vocabulary. When I try to weed out fabrics, I find I like them all! Do you think Johnny Damon will help the Tigers? We can only hope!

Hi, my name is Kim and I am a "fabric fanatic" I am a collector of fabric, but I also use alot from my stash. It just seems that the purchasing and acquiring outweighs the using. I love giving away my quilts I've made to my friends and family, so much so that the only handmade quilt I have on a bed in my house is one that my DH won in a raffle. After admitting my addiction to fabric I will say that winning the Prairie Paisley would make a wonderful addition to my stash.

I love Prairie Paisley! I have given away two quilts made from it. Maybe the 3rd time is a charm (or maybe a fat quarter!!)I tried during the first weeks of January to clean and organize my stash. That hasn't changed too much--it is just spread out a little further! LOL

I recently did some stash management by giving the flannels to a neighbor who sews receiving blankets for a local hospital and giving several boxes of fabric to a local church whose guild makes charity quilts. I make quilts (large & small) and bags for my family and friends. A handmade gift is always received well.

My stash management technique is to try to only buy what I know I have a project for. Then, what's left over is cut into strips for scrappy projects. Plus, I try to use what I love rather than storing it way. If I don't love it, donate it to the local high school sewing class. They always appreciate free fabric.

I believe I need a stash - a big ol' stash - so I can best see what I need to use where - yes?? It's kinda like buying the biggest box of crayons or all the paints - bigger is best!! I LOVE fiber - and esp. your new showings!! sandi in texas setelzrow@grandecom.net

And what a hoot that Moda is running out of room!! LOLI manage my stash by not buying that much!! I make mostly scrap quilts so if I start to run low on a certain color I purchase some FQers to replenish. I only have so much room and feel it is silly to purchase more then I'll ever use....I still have plenty, just not as much as most quilters.I'd love a chance to win your beautiful fabrics!! I'll make room for them if need be!!! LOL

Prairie Paisley is one of the best Moda lines ever! Love it and would love to have some more :) Stash management???!!??? I've decided to use fabric as insulation--just keep stacking up along the outside walls of the sewing room and voila! lower heating bills this winter!!

I'm just going out to buy more shelving to accommodate my stash. Being unemployed currently, I am attempting to get all the unwashed fabric washed and on my new shelves. We'll see how successful that endeavor is.

I'd love to add your fabrics to my process right now - they're gorgeous! And of course I wasn't collecting those prints when they were out.

My fabric stash has taken over my sewing room, but I just keep buying more. My mini quilting group, the Quilty Chicks, refer to it as "Henderson's Fabric Shop". The good news is that my 9 year old granddaughter has begun making quilts and someday I'll pass it on to her. Since she was very small she loved to play with my fabrics and now she loves to pick and choose what to use in her projects.

My stash keeps being added to. I buy fabric because I like it, and don't always have a plan for it. I am expecting my 5th baby, and I did just make a quilt for him, and I'm going to get around to making my girl's their matching "Patisserie" bed quilts eventually, but most of my quilt making is give away. I love giving something of use to others. I love Praire Paisley. I would love to not have a plan for it in my stash.

I share my stash with other quilters. I belong to freecycle and when I have a bag of scraps I will advertise online and someone will come to my house and pick them up, It's usually an appliquer that will take them....I would love to share your stash...

Stash management? Is there such a thing? I love my stash and go throught it ever chance I get. I believe the reason we have a stash is because we love love love FABRIC! Thank you for the give away. Adding your fabric to my stash would really be wonderful!

I use the love system. The fabrics I love, love, love are in a pie safe. The fabrics I love are in a dresser. The fabrics I like are under the bed, and the rest I give (or throw) away. When any spot becomes full, I either have to quit buying or sew like the wind!As for quilts, I can't seem to manage that, but I'm trying to make more to give away (especially from that under-the-bed fabric.)

I manage my stash by adding to it as often as I can! There are so many wonderful fabric lines these days that if you don't buy it when you see it, it won't be there when you want it. Thanks for all the inspiration!Karen L.

My stash is very small. It fits in a couple clear totes that sit on a shelf in my closet waiting for me to use it. This fabric will be used right up though as it will fit in quite nicely with a quilt I'm working on for my living room.

Love the mittens...a collector's item for sure and a great tree decoration! I don't manage my stash, it manages me! I do keep it by color family in an armoire. I've started collecting charm packs and jelly rolls and those have spilled out into baskets. I've given fabric to charity and friends when it no longer interests me but I doubt if I will be able to part with much of my current collection until it is sewn into quilts and crafts!

Prairie Paisley is my all time favorite of your collections. I made one quilt from it, but have another one planned (Chippewa 9-Patch) and would love to win more. I don't know if you would call my stash managed. I do however like to pass along my leftovers when I am done making a quilt. If I have a friend who is interested, most of the time I give them to her.

Does anyone ever really "control" their stash?! I have converted a spare bedroom and a very large armoire to store fabric. Then, started "displaying" favorite fabrics rolled and folded in large baskets on top of the armoire...and any other spot I can think of! Just thinking about this makes me smile and want to go fabric shopping!!! Juliet in SoCal

I love Prairie Paisley collectin!My stash isn't really managed at this time. We moved a while back and my DH moved my sewing room one day when I wasn't home. So needless to say most of it is in boxes or containers of some type. I've been slowly sorting and now have 2 cupboards to put it in.

You wouldn't think that someone who has only been quilting about a year would have a problem with too much fabric! Guess again!! I had to buy milk crates and stack them with the opening facing out. I tried to tell myself I'm going use up what I've got and finish my projects before getting any more. As you would expect, that didn't work!

Very little "stash management" here. Think I lost control a few years ago. At least almost all of my fabric is contained in one room - closet, shelves, shelves, and just piles of recent 'acquisitions'. So that is some sort of management!!! Of course, would love to have a little more to 'manage', especially from one of your collections.

My 2010 resolution is to actually use my stash. I am feverously trying to use up my stash so that I can give myself permission to buy new fabric. I have already put a good size dent into it. Guess it's off to the quilt shop this weekend to buy more. Mustn't let stash get too low, or I won't have enough fabric to finish all of my projects. LOL. Thanks for the great contest and by the way I store my fabric in cabinets up in my sewing room.

Oh, MY! What a problem for MODA! I have my MODA stash in my sewing area. I also have my wools and my xstitch stuff and rug hhoking supplies in my room. The rest of the 'stuff' is in the basement, rarely used, so I should really donate it (after I wash it). I like to make scrap quilts for our boys who live in New England. They like the scrap ones. I do make quilts to donate to the school for fundraising, etc. I ahve shelves in my room to store things by Designer/line and then as it gets used, I store it by color. I also store it by 'type....my country and prim lines, civil war, and then contemporary. Backgrounds are another pile. Oh, My....

What a wonderful giveaway - those fabrics are gorgeous and I'd be really happy to give them a new home. I control my stash by sorting in colours - I have pieces of 1/2 yard and bigger in wire storage drawers and the smaller pieces in fabric storage boxes. This year I am on a "use what I have and buy only what I need for a specific project" mission - so far it's working really well.

Boy, what a generous giveaway...I would love to be the recipient of either of the "stacks". I have a gorgeous piece of furniture with shelves and glass doors that "roll above" to put a lot of my stash...it was a gift. The rest are in plastic totes...here there and everywhere!

I would love to add some Prairie Paisley to the fabrics I'm collecting for a quilt for myself -- even though I never seem to get around to starting it! Too busy with other, more important projects! Thanks for all your inspiration!

Stash?? what stash??? oh you mean my quilting pantry??? One has to keep the staples in her pantry doesnt she??? My pantry has shelves with white plastic baskets full of the staples!! Its a good thing!!pbaumi@roadrunner.com

If you come into my house you know you will have to share the couch with either a pile of fabric, a cat, or a stack of books!-Talk about being "surrounded" by the things you love!Thanks for the giveaway!Triciatriciasagen@netscape.net

Okay, I have a large needlework stash/collection which I do use for my many projects.

I'm just beginning to build my fabric stash as I am a very, and I mean very, new and beginning quilter.

For several yars, I've been buying fabric that I love and donating it to Project Linus so that the fabrics can be made into beautiful quilts. I finally decided that I needed to learn how to quilt so I can make quilts to donate.

By the way, I also buy yarn that's on sale and that I love to donate to Project Linus.

I have a wire basket (drawer) system that is working so far. I recently moved and every piece of fabric had to be refolded to fit the new system. This was stash mgt 101. I"m trying to be on a buying sabatical and using up pieces for backs. Donating to charity quilts is also a great place for those pieces I just don't like anymore!

I fold my fabric around a 6x24 ruler so thatit is unform and stack by color. I also keep fabric from one line together, breaking the stack by color rule. I do keep material bought for a specific project together with the pattern in a zip lock bag together so I don't accidentally use it.

I have one room devoted to fabric and other craft supplies. I have large shelving units filled with plastic boxes filled with fabric, divided by color, type, etc.Since I will never use it all I have been giving to charitable groups making quilts and pillows for nursing homes. Along with everone else, Prairie Paisley is one of my favorite fabrics! Thanks for being so generous!Terry Ann

Well, I'd like to think I manage mine by a combination of color and the line or designer of the collection but....I it is more of the 'no that is not the right one, toss it into the pile and move on. My first pattern I designed was inspired by the Prairie Paisley line so I'd love to get a package of all the bits of it. Becky

Stash management? Hmm...I think I barely reached the point where stash management is needed (maybe my partner wouldn't think so...). But I now think twice if I'll *neeeeed* the fabric or not before I hit the 'buy' button...When I started quilting 2 years ago, I always was frustrated when patterns called for some scraps. I simply didn't have any - by now, this problem is solved, I even have all my scraps sorted by size in plastic bags//boxes .My other fabrics are sorted either by color or by theme (Christmas/Japanese/reproduction/favourite collection or designer). Some future projects are already kitted - and all are stored in my bedroom in clear plastic boxes. There were (already) some fabrics from my early days which I don't really like anymore - I took them to the group I attend once a month and the girls could take whatever they liked.Oh, I would LOVE to win the giveaway! Unfortunately I didn't discover your fabrics earlier...(they're not that easy to get here in Germany and I didn't know about those fabulous online quilting shops back then...)! Prairie Paisley is one of my most favourite collections & whenever I come across it, I have to buy some of it...I have an extra box reserved for my limited PP stash...they would be perfect for a quilt quilt for my mom...;o) (if I were able to part with it when it would be finished).Thanks to you & the fabulous moda team for this generous giveaway...JuliaP.S.: those mittens are cute! Monica is a real sweetheart.

I really love the Prairie Paisley fabric from your collection. I have made a Schnibbles wall hanging using this and could really use some more of this collection to make another smaller quilt for a family member. I try to control my stash by making various size quilts for family members, quilts of valor and donation quilts for hospitals. But like most, I turn around and purchase some new fabric adding again to the stash. Prairie Paisley along with Flag Day Farms are my all time favorite Moda quilt fabric. Thanks!

Oh! Prairie Paisley-my favorite! As for stash management I have been making scrap quilts lately but a funny thing has happened-the stash has not reduced much! How can you make a couple of queen size quilts out of the stash and have more stash when you are done? Right now I give most of my quilts away since I have plenty for myself and hubby.

Fabric has a "wild hair" nature. I keep my fabric nicely folded and displayed in baskets & cute little vinettes. The important thing about keeping your stash managed it to remember to PET it- continuously. Fabric likes to feel loved & given lots of attention. I tell the fabric to be patient, I will use it soon. If I neglect my stash- all hell breaks loose & I can walk into a sewing room that looks like a party has gone on in there... (the wild hair thing.)

Stash management... yes, well how I have finally gotten it "a bit" under control is to let some of my new sewer friends "shop" at my house! I take out things I can live without, and they come take away what they want! It works for me! I gave away an entire laundry basket in January... although it still doesn't seem much is gone! Also, I have told my 3 daughters and 1 DIL to shop at "Mom's Fabric Store" if and when they need something that I might have... too funny!!! Might!?! What can I say..my stash is very verital because I used to work at a fabric store and besides quilts etc... I make wedding dresses (although I usually don't stash that type of fabric) plus lots of other clothing. I can imagine it must be fun to go thru the company warehouse!!! It would be a bit of Heaven wouldn't it? Thanks for sharing... with whom ever name gets drawn! P.S. the mittens are really cute! When the Winter Olypics were here in Utah, it was the cute barea's that everyone wanted!

I have a large stash - don't remember buying most of it - maybe they reproduce by themselves like hangers. I've been making charity projects and donating fabric to our guild. I'd like to get rid of many fat quarters so I can buy yardage - I never have enough of one fabric for a project. We have a large basement so I've stored it on shelves - it's a nice dry area so it is safe from moisture and sun. If I should win some of your fabulous fabric, I will take very good care of it!! Thank you!!!

I don't control my stash, I just go buy another container to fill up. Prairie Paisley is my favorite fabric line. I have alreadymade 1 quilt and have plans for one more. I give my quilts to family and a nursing home in my area.